Protecting device for ball-and-socket axle-joints.



A I 1. wjGAuiGHAN; PRQT'ECU'NG bevlc; Foa BALL AND SOCKET AxLEjJfmNrs.v

APPLICATION FILI-'IDy SEPT. i6. 1912.

mtemdmar. 2s, 1916.

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J AMES W. GAUGHAN, OF SOUTH OMAHA, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR TO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AUTO CO., OF GLINTONVILLE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0F WISCONSIN.

PROTECTING DEVICE FOR BALL-AND-SOCKET AXLEJOINTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.Patented Mar. es, ieie.

Application filed September 16, 1912. Serial N o. 720,543. i'

Ball-and-Socket Axle-Joints, of which theA following is a specification..

My invention relates to improvements in lprotecting device for a ball and socket axle joint. n

The object of my inventionl is to 'provide means whereby a flexible covering may be applied to the members of a ball and socket pivot joint so as to exclude dust and' grit from the bearing faces.

In the drawing,'l4`igure 1 is an elevation showing my invention applied to the stubaxle of a motor driven vehicle. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same drawn longitudinally to the axle.

Like parts are identified by the same i'eference characters in both views.

The stationary member A of `the axle, in my improved structure is provided with a spherically curved bearing member B which carries upwardly and downwardly pr0]ect ing pivot posts C. A spherically curved bearing member D is adapted to fit over the member B and is provided with upwardly and downwardly projecting sleeves E which (J, said posts being covered receive the posts by caps F. The specific structure of this bearing is shown and described in a separate application and need not be more specilically described herein. It will be observed, however, that the metal parts of the mem ber I) completely cover member and exclude dust and grit therefrom except attlie opening in thatI side of th-e member l) through which the axle A extends. At this side the member D is not only provided with an opening of sufficient size to permit the member A to pass through it, but said 'opening must also be large enough to allow mem ber D to oscillate upon the pivotal axes of the posts C. To prevent dust and grit`from entering the bearing through this opening'in the member D l employ a flexible covering (ir, preferably of leather, and securethe Sallie to the n'i'enibers'f` A and D respectively. lVliere this covering incloses the axle mein- .ber A. it is cylindrical inform and is secured to 'the axle member A by an ordinary ring H. The covering G is conically expanded, however, and its outer margins l are curved and are adapted to fit the spherically curved surface of the vmember D at a ,point back of the margin K of the opening therein. This end or marginal portion of the covering G is secured to the member D by aband L which conforms in shape to the marginal portion of the outer end 0f the covering G and to the curvature of the member D along the line thereof to which it is applied. The band L must, therefore, have an interior coiiically tapered surface of irregular contour, the inclination of which changes the band curves inwardly at the sides in order to allow for the transverse elongation of the opening in the member D, said band curving outwardly at the top and the bottom in order to pass around the pivot sleevesl E and parts connected therewith such as the steering eye M. The collar H and band'L are 'secured in position by bolts or rivets, preferably by bolts N. The coveringG, will, of course, be somewhat compressed between the band L and collar H, whereby sufficient slack is provided to allow flexion of the joint.

I claim:

1. A dust tight ball'and'soc'ket axle joint.

. movements of the ball and socket members upon each other. a fiat clamping band encircling said covering and the ball carrying member'in close proximity to the ball. and a cooperative clamping band connecting the expanded portion of the covering with the socket member along a curved line substantially conforming to the arc of a small circle of the socket member. said clamping band conforming to the surface of the socket member to which it is supplied, substantiallyA as described.

The combination with a set of mutually engaging spherically rounded bearing membersge an nxle'nxember en nnecte 'with the in- 'ner bearing member l l l I n transversely elongated opening in the other member? a flexible ceveri'ng for saidwepen-;

'and projecting .through ing comcelly 'tapered and formed .atfp'rel lend toaleeee' the axle-member and enlarged' it the nher enden receive the exterior'benrf ,ing member, e clampingy ring binding seif covering;n to fthe' axlegnem'bey, and;y e; band 4in the presenee of tht-eeWtneSses.l bindingeni' cpveringfto the,eitelvozrfsujracel 'ihe `eriijtfesi'iA bearing fnemmer, the bandf encircling Seid bearing; memberndjneent to j sa.idf-Qpeninfgy and conforming te ,the 'alii-face' thereizelolgf a linehch dvegee from n cir'clle'inffthe face'-of'ihe'-outer member' by gine of the lnteraly' extended jopening, ancleln'mpng belts for ibnting the ringr'and Vvbend: upon the exble'eovering and. te .t'he

axle. memberL and banning member respectively, s'bstnntiallyf as described."

n tesimon'y whereof lafx my Signa-ture y. JAMES-IW., @menen 

